11/09/15

Audi MediaCenter

Fast charging and Audi wireless charging

Fast charging and Audi wireless charging

Progress in charging technology is crucial to the success of electromobility. Whether charging with direct or alternating current, the new solutions from Audi for all-electric cars and plug-in hybrids will be extremely convenient for customers. There will also be wireless options. Market launch is scheduled to begin in 2017.

Up to 150 kW of power – fast charging with direct current

Direct current charging with 150 kW of power is the next step. With this technology, a sporty SUV such as the Audi e-tron quattro concept would be able to charge its large 95 kWh battery to 80% capacity in less than half an hour, enough for a cruising range of around 400 kilometers (248.5 mi). A full charge – enough for more than 500 kilometers (310.7 mi) – would take around 50 minutes.

Audi and other German manufacturers use the Combined Charging System (CCS). It enables electric cars to be charged with direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) using the standard Combo 2 connector. The official charging solution of the European Union, which is based on the CCS standard, has already been ratified. To further promote these standards worldwide, Audi co-founded the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) with BMW, Daimler, Opel, Porsche and Volkswagen, connector manufacturers Mennekes and PhoenixContact, and the TÜV SÜD inspection authority in May 2015. In China and Japan, where other standards already exist (GB/T and CHAdeMO, respectively), country-specific requirements will be accommodated. Installation of CCS charging stations has already begun in Europe and the United States. The majority of stations currently available on the market support DC charging with 50 kW.

With a high-performance fast-charging infrastructure along transport axes, all-electric cars would be suitable for universal use. Current efforts are geared toward ensuring the establishment and operation of a fast-charging infrastructure with at least 150 kW by the market launch of the first all-electric sport SUV from Audi. The Audi e-tron quattro concept introduced at the IAA in Frankfurt was equipped with the CCS charging interface. The new standard allows for charging with up to 350 kW.

Audi considers it very important to offer the customers of its all-electric models a very convenient and capable charging system. This also requires cooling of the charging connector while connected to the charging station. This is the only way to continuously transfer the full power without thermally overloading the pins. In real-world driving, DC fast charging represents significant value-added for customers, particularly for long trips.

Audi wireless charging – wireless charging with alternating currentDC fast charging is virtually impossible in the private infrastructure due to the limited grid power. AWC (Audi wireless charging) is an inductive AC charging technology Audi is developing as an alternative that also makes home charging extremely convenient. The company hopes to launch AWC in 2017.

With AWC, the energy is transferred via a floor charging plate connected to the electric grid. The plate has an integrated primary coil and an inverter (AC/AC converter). Connected to a 16 ampere, single-phase outlet, the first-generation system offers a charging power of 3.6 kW, with higher powers of up to 11 kW possible in the next version.

When the customer approaches to within a few meters of the charging plate with his Audi e-tron, the plate establishes radio contact with the car. The driver then sees the precise position of the floor plate on the display. Charging can begin immediately after proper positioning or according to a timer. With the piloted parking systems Audi is currently developing for production use, the car handles positioning itself. The driver can get out of the car and then initiate the parking procedure remotely via her smartphone.

Prior to charging, an integrated electric motor in the floor plate raises the primary coil. This minimizes the distance between it and the secondary coil, which is integrated into the front section of the Audi e-tron floor pan, regardless of the specific vehicle. The floor plate’s alternating electromagnetic field induces an alternating current in the car’s secondary coil across the air gap. An AC/DC converter inverts the current, which is then fed into the high-voltage electrical system. There it charges the battery and powers additional consumers such as the heating or air conditioning as needed. The driver can interrupt the charging process at any time, and charging stops automatically when the battery is full.

Because the alternating field is only generated when a car is over the plate and the coil is active, there is no risk to people or animals. The small air gap prevents the magnetic field from interfering with electronic devices.

The first generation of the AWC technology is ideal for use in home garages or office building parking garages. A later version can be integrated in a modified form into the public infrastructure, such as into the asphalt of roads and parking lots.

The equipment and data specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.

The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Starting on September 1st 2018, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced by the WLTP in stages. Owing to the more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured according to the WLTP will, in many cases, be higher than those measured according to the NEDC. For further information on the differences between the WLTP and NEDC, please visit
www.audi.de/wltp.

We are currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. It is possible to specify the WLTP figures voluntarily in addition until such time as this is required by law. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering. They are intended exclusively as a means of comparison between different vehicle types. Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tyre formats, etc.) may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO2 emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new passenger car models”, which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at
www.dat.de.